Shoe



Dec. 24, 1935. J DALY r AL 2,025,647

SHOE

Filed Aug. 23, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 In verziars: 1% 27 John JDaly gharlesl ofiay Dec. 24, 1935. ALY ET A 2,025,647

SHOE

Filed Aug. 23, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventors.- g/2m J Daly Ufiazrles Z20 fiagy Patented Dec. 24, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOE Application August 23, 1934, Serial No. 741,102

4 Claims.

This invention relates to the manufacture of shoes and particularly to the shoe and heel as articles of manufacture.

Our invention contemplates an inexpensive shoe which will simulate the appearance of the more expensive shoe, particularly in the region of the heel, and at the same time will be as comfortable and as serviceable as the more expensive shoe.

Where the more expensive shoe is provided with a rubber heel, the usual practice is to use a full length outer sole and a rubber heel tap of conventional height. In order to bring the heel to the desired height, it is customary to interpose between the heel area of such full length outer sole and the heel tap itself a heel base consisting of one or more lifts of leather or other suitable material. This heel base is stained or painted to match the heel area of the outer sole and thus give the effect of a whole or solid heel base.

The use of a heel base represents an expense in the matter of material and labor and consequently in the less expensive shoes, and particularly where such less expensive shoes are provided with rubber heel taps, it has been proposed by some. shoe manufacturers to omit the heel base entirely and to use a rubber tap member of greater height than the height of the conventional rubber heel tap.

The appearance of such a shoe at the heel, however, immediately identifies the shoe as'a shoe of the less expensive type in that the contrast between the rubber tap member and the heel area of the leather outer sole is pronounced and the absence of the interposed lift or lifts is conspicuous.

According to our invention we provide a shoe of inexpensive type which is so constructed as to its heel and its method of heel attachment as to give the appearance of the interposed lift feature of the more expensive shoe, while, however, being more economical than such expensive shoe and at the same time being fully as comfortable and as serviceable as the more expensive shoe.

As illustrative of the principles of our invention we show in the accompanying drawings embodiments thereof which have been found entirely satisfactory under actual service conditions and well adapted to requirements of commercial manufacture.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a standard welt shoe in accordance with our invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view, as seen from above,

of the heel and a part of the outer sole of such a shoe, disassembled.

Fig. 3 illustrates the step of overlapping the sole upon the heel to obtain a tight joint.

Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line 4-4 of 5 Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through the heel area of the shoe shown in Fig. l. 10

Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 3 but showing the adaptation of our invention to a welt shoe of the type wherein a welt or midsole is substituted for the standard welt illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view of the outer sole and the welt or midsole illustrated in Fig. '7, and

as seen from below, and Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but showing the heel of Fig. 7 and the outer sole and welt or midsole of Figs. 7 and 8 assembled with such 20' heel.

In carrying out our invention we use an outer sole which has its heel area out off along a line which when the outer sole is overlapped upon the heel brings the rear end of the outer sole a sub- 25' stantial distance in rear of the heel breast, such an outersole being commonly termed a short sole.

With such an outer sole we employ a heel of new structure and result. Our heel is a whole or solid heel. It is also a cupped heel. At its 30 breast our heel is of greater height than the conventional rubber heel tap. Rearwardly from its breast our heel rapidly increases in height.

On account of its cupped form our heel provides a concaved heel seat surface extending from the 35 From this fiat seating portion the heel extends 45 rearwardly within the cupped margins as a bevelled surface. Preferably the rear end of the outer sole is bevelled on a bevel which matches such bevelled surface of the heel, the bevel of the outer sole being a rearwardly facing bevel and the bevel of the heel within the cupped margins thereof being a forwardly facing bevel. Thus within the marginal edges of the cupped heel there is provided a receiving concavity for the overlapping end of the outer sole. This concavity or receiving recess is included within the cupped margins of the heel itself, being constituted in part by said relatively fiat seat portion and in part by said forwardly facing bevelled portion of the heel.

When the outer sole is overlapped upon the heel and attached thereto, a tight joint is afforded throughout the area of overlap due to the fact that the overlapping rear end of the outer sole is snugly seated within said concavity or receiving recess at the forward part of the heel.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the outer sole is cut on a curve which is reversed to the curvature of the heel breast. Where so out, we attain a longer overlap and an extremely tight joint, due to the fact that the effective pressure applied at the center of the overlapping joint does not tend to cause the corners or edges-of the outer sole to separate from the edges of the heel, as would be the case if the outer sole were cut on a straight out and overlapped. 7

Speaking generally, the amount ofmaterial removed from the outer sole as a result of the beveled cut is replaced by the increase in thickness or height of the heel in the forward area thereof which is overlapped by the rear end of the outer sole.

After a shoe having an outer sole and heel in accordance with our invention has been assembled and nailed and trimmed, the shoe is finished in the heel area bystaining thetop portion-of the heel to simulate a heel base and by either leaving the lower portion of the heel unstained or by scuffing it to give the effect of a half heel which simulates in height and appearance the height and appearance of the conventional rubber heel tap.

our heel occupies the position normally occupied 40 by the interposed lift or lifts of leather in the more expensive shoe and is stained to simulate such interposed lift or lifts and heel base, and the lower portion of our heel simulates in height and appearance, the height and appearance of the conventional rubber heel tap. Thus, the shoe cannot be distinguished in appearance from the more expensive shoe. 'At the same time it offers certain advantages of economy while still affording a tightness of joint and a degree of comfort and serviceability not heretofore considered possible in an inexpensive grade of shoe.

Referring first to. Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive wherein we have illustrated a standard welt shoe in accordance with our invention, we have indicated at E0 the upper structure generally of such shoe, at H the outer sole, at l2 the inner sole, at I3 the welt strip, and at I4 the heel.

As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the normal heel area of the outer sole H is cut off along a line 15 such that the rear end of the outer sole extends wellback of the heel breast 16 of the heel when the parts are overlapped as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 6.

Preferably, although not necessarily, the line of cut off is a curved line corresponding substantially to the'curvature of the heel breast, but reversed thereto, thereby forming a concave end on the sole. Preferably also, the rear end of the sole at said out off is beveled or skived rearwardly as indicated at ll. By this construction we are able to obtain a longer overlap and a tighter joint between the outer sole and the solereceiving portion of the heel when the parts are assembled.

With such a cut-off outer sole, we use a heel rear edge as at its breast, measuring along the longitudinal medial line of the heel.

For purposes of description also, our heel may be said to present asa result of its cupping, a definitely raised marginal portion or rim, indicated by the reference numeral [8, which extends entirely around the side and rear edges of the heel inwardly for a substantial distance, as

graphically represented by the shaded area in 20 these drawings. v

By way of aid in understanding the construction, that part of the heel lying rearwardly of the imaginary line l9l9 (Fig. 2) may be con sidered as the heel seat area 20 of the heel. This area is an area of definite concavity, as clearly appears from-such views as Figs. 2 and 6. If the imaginary line l9--l9 be considered as the forward boundary of such concaved heel seat area, such line is also the approximate rearward distance of overlap of the outer sole II on the heel, that is to say, the rear end of the outer sole overlaps the heel to the line I9-I9.

Forwardly of the imaginary line |9-l9 the heel is formed with a transversely extending de- 35' tion forms a horizontal seat portion 22 for the 45" so-le end.

Said seat 22 affords a fiat bearing for the overlapping end of the outer sole, the bevel ll of said sole bearing upon the correspondingly inclined bevel 2| of the heel, and the marginal edges of 50- the sole conforming to the cupped lateral edges l8 of the heel which enclose said areas 22 and 2|. (See Figs. 3 and 4.)

Thus, at the forward end of the heel there is provided a definite concavity or receiving recess 22-2| for the overlapping end of the outer sole. Such recess 22-2I lies within the cupped lateral edges l8 of the heel and is constituted by the flat seat 22 and the forwardly facing bevel 2| of the heel. The overlap of the sole with the heel is complete across the entire width of the heel. This results in a tight joint which will not open or spread under the fiexations of the shoe in use.

Our heel may therefore be said to present in one area thereof a concaved heel seat area 20 which extends from a line representing the extremity of overlap of the cut outer sole rearwardly to the rear edge of the heel and forwardly of such concaved heel seat area 20 as a receiving recess 22-2! for the overlapping end of the outer sole, which concavity or recess is constituted by the generally fiat seat portion 22 and the forwardly facing beveled portion 2| 'merging therewith.

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 7, 8,

and 9 the welt strip I3 is replaced by a' conven- 75 tional welt or mid sole 23, which, if desired and as here shown, may have a rearward bevel at its rear end as indicated at 24 similar to the rearwardly facing bevel I! at the rear end of the outer sole l l The rear end of the welt sole 23 extends slightly beyond the rear end of the outer sole I l.

The heel used with this type of welted shoe is generally similar to the heel used with the standard welt .of Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive except that the forwardly facing bevel of the heel is at a somewhat steeper angle than the similarly facing bevel of the heel shown in Figs. 1 to 6, and the horizontal seat area of the heel in Figs. '7, 8, and 9 is somewhat longer than the corresponding area of the heel in Figs. 1 to 6.

When the two soles II and 23 are overlapped upon the heel, as shown in Fig. 9, the joint is complete except for nailing.

With either type of welt, the sole or soles is fastened to the heel by nails. Just in back of the heel breast, we nail by means of a row of nails 25 which penetrates the outer sole and the heel at their overlap. These nails are preferably driven at the same time as the marginal series of nails 26 which fasten the heel to the heel area of the shoe generally.

If desired, the overlap portion of the sole may be temporarily fastened in any suitable manner within the concavity or receiving recess 22-2l of the heel preliminarily to permanently nailing the heel, as by cementing the same to the heel.

Where the rear end of the outer sole is cut on a curved line l which is reversed to the curvature of the heel breast, the sole is effectively prevented from working loose at the corners when pressure is applied at the center of the overlap, due to the fact that a longer region of overlap is afforded than would be the case where the sole is simply cut off on a straight line across its rear end.

After the shoe has been assembled, the upper portion 21 of the heel which, in the more expensive grade of shoe to which our invention is comparable, would correspond to the uncut heel area of a full outer sole and to the interposed lift or heel base of such more expensive grade of shoe, is painted or stained in imitation of the sole leather, and the lower portion 28 of the heel is preferably scuffed or otherwise treated to give it the appearance of the conventional rubber heel tap of conventional height.

Thus, in the assembly shown, the area 21 simulates the appearance of the more expensive shoe in that it matches the leather of the outer sole and the lower area 28 that of the conventional rubber heel tap of conventional height.

Our invention, however, obviates the necessity for using either a full outer sole of full length or of using an interposed lift or heel base while at the same time affording a tightness and permanency of joint in the overlapping area of the cut outer sole and the heel which prevents any tendency of the parts to spread in this region in the use of the shoe.

Although we have described our invention as applied to the manufacture of welt shoes either of the standard welt or the welt sole type, the principles of our invention nevertheless apply to McKay shoes as well. With the McKay we simply follow standard McKay practice, but use,

What we therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:--

1. A unitary molded composition heel having rear upwardly extending marginal portions adapted to snugly engage the upper materials of a shoe, and opposite upwardly extending marginal portions inclined thereto for engaging the beveled end of a short sole, the upper face of said heel at the rear thereof being recessed to form a concave heel seat and the front thereof being beveled downwardly therefrom to form a depressed sole-receiving recess across the width of the heel and curved to substantially correspond to the transverse curvature of the concave heel seat, said sole receiving recess having its lateral ends defined by the inclined marginal portions.

2. A unitary heel unit for use in a shoe having an outsole terminating in a thinned end within the bounds of the heel, the attaching face of said heel having a cupped rear area bounded by 30 upwardly projecting margins for contact with the upper material of a shoe, a substantial length of curved upwardly facing forwardly inclined area in prolongation of the cupped area, and a shelf area in prolongation of the inclined area, the margins of the inclined area and shelf area extending upwardly to contact a sole and being in prolongation of the margins of the cupped area.

3. A shoe, comprising upper materials, a unitary heel, and a short outsole terminating within the bounds of the heel in a gradually beveled end, said heel having an attaching face which comprises a cupped rear area, a substantial length of upwardly facing forwardly inclined area in advanoe of and merging with said cupped rear area, and a depressed shelf area in advance of and merging with said forwardly inclined area, said forwardly inclined and shelf areas being transversely curved to substantially correspond to the transverse curvature of the cupped rear area, there being an upwardly extending marginal rim at the outer margins of said attaching face bounding all of said areas and providing in the region of the cupped rear area a seating surface adapted to snugly engage the upper materials of the shoe, in the region of the forwardly inclined area surfaces adapted to engage the beveled end of the outsole, and in the region of the shelf area surfaces adapted to engage the under face of the sole, and means uniting said outsole and heel unit to the upper material with the outsole overlying the heel unit.

4. A shoe as claimed in claim 3 wherein the outsole extends throughout the forward and 55 shank areas of the shoe and terminates in a concaved beveled end.

CHARLES L. DALY.

JOHN J. DALY. 

